The Harrison Holiday Project

By Ruth Singer’s count, there are 110 Harrison families, or 356 individual Harrison residents, currently in what she describes in a letter posted on the town’s website as “financial crisis.” Two years ago, she writes, 72 families were in similar straits, meaning the problem is growing.

In response, Singer, in collaboration with the Town/Village of Harrison, is managing the Holiday Project, an effort to provide families in need with a “Holiday in a Basket. Each basket’s contents include a grocery gift certificate, clothing, toys and various other items.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a family can donate the full $150 cost of the basket, or whatever amount they like, by contacting Singer. Her address, phone number and email are below.

During a recent phone conversation, Singer said she got involved with the Holiday Project, which launched two years ago, because she wanted to do good close to home.

“It’s my town,” she said. “I had no idea that there was this need in my town.”

Singer said the flow of donations has slowed since people turned their focus to recovering from Sandy. She said contributions of all sizes are appreciated. Checks should be made out to The Town of Harrison Holiday Project.

Ned P. Rauch covers the environment for The Journal News and Lohud.com. Previous assignments include stints covering New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Harrison and Pelham. He's been a full-time reporter since 2000, when he joined the hard-working staff of the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, the only daily paper published within the Adirondack Park. He and his wife live in the Hudson Valley and play in a band called Tall County.